The Irish standard., 1887-12-24

] and Joyous looks take flight at the fear
iful apparition, and pity-eYen If pity
were granted struggling with horror
and disgust. He saw the lovely child
i shrinking back, as she had shrank away
that morning, and her sweet. blue eyes
gazing out upon him with childish
terror. No, mol it should not beat
least, not to night! not to night! Let
slumbers soft and happy dreams be
theirs, unbroken by the vision of a
spectre such as he. He had borne his
misery for long and weary years
What mattered few hours more?
With the money that remained to him,
he would seek out some humble refuge
where he might lay him down and die.
Perchance an hospital might open its
doors to him; and thence he would send
tor his son, who would come to him
and receive his dying penitence ard
give him a decent burial. Yes, and
the son might bring the lovely child.
And the outcast thought that if he
could but press the beautiful form to his
bosom and feel the touch of the rich,
ripe lips upon his own, he would die
content and happy.
And, as he pondered, the group dis
appeared from the window aud the
music of a Christmas hymn came out
upon the air. While he listened, the
clock of neighboring steeple struck
the hour of one, in deep, low note,
that pulsed and vibra5ed afar in the
stilly night, and at whose solemn sound
the watcher started and shuddered as
though he heard a knell, Presently
the lights went out in the parlor. A
few fitting CLEANS glanced hither and
thitber among the upper windows.
These soon disappeared, and the cot
tage, silent and dark, slumbered in the
moonlight
lie must arise and hurry on his way;
but, for time, his stffeued limbs re-
fused their Office. He chafed the be-
numbed and icy Joints, and at length,
bv supreme effort, gained his feet
What wondrous change had come upon
that night! Had not the bitter air
grown mild and balmy? ae felt the
cold no longer, though the hand he
pressed to his forehead was Of ice,
while the brow was burning hot. And
then a soft delicious languor had stolen
upon him; dreamy, vouptut us feel.
ing, that invaded every sense and fac
ulty. To sleep! to sleep! Oh, could he
but gain shelter Of roof, how deep,
how peaceful, how sweet and prolonged
should be mis- slumbers! And, even as
he mused, that sl,lmhcous languor
passed into ethargy---oyerWhelm
laralyzing.
We are told that when the iger has
made his spring, and holds his prey
within his savage grasp, 8 like stupol
selzes on its victim. So, too, the clutch
Of that death which comes in the fierce
wintry air brings a torpor to the faJed
wretch before its icy fangs strike to his
heart aud still it forever.
Cropping, half conscious, staggering
like one in the last Stages Of in.oxlca
tion. the man tottered OCT Of the gar
den. The objects before hila wavered
and receded in ihaz5. The flame of
| the street lamps grew dim and ffickered.
then vanished away into infinite space.
He could advance nc farther. The en-
thraling, fierce and crushing grasp Of
slumber was upon him. 1t bound him
round as with an iron chain. AT few
PAGES distant the snow had been swept
from the outer railings Of a dwelling.
AN ailanthus threw out its dry, bare
arms above. he man crawled to the
spot and creuched against the tree.
His head sank upon his bosom. In.
stantly he slept.
| The burly form of patrolman X.
came down the street. From above
the heavy mufl1 ers that swathed his
throat his bre ,th poured out uron the
icy air in clouds Of vapor. The heavy
moustache was an icicle. The moisture
forced from his eyes by the bitter at
mosphere had congraled upon the
lashes. He stamped upon the tagging
as he hurried on, and swung his arms
about his stalwart frame.
ia fearful nightr' he muttered.
The worstI ever saw. GOD help the
homeless!'
AL this moment the recumbent figure
Of the outcast caught his eye. He
rushed over and shook it violently.
sfWake ny! wake up!" he cried. 'sMY
God, rnan, would you freeze to death?''
The form WIS rigid and swayed life
]essly beneath mis- grasp. Through the
thick gloves Of the officer au icy Chill
shot through him at the contact He
bent down and gtzed npou the face
The eyes were fixed and staring. The
man was dead!
-
A few hours later, the sergeant on
duty at the station to which the officer
was attached entered in the blotttr, ia